Today's show is about little things that make a huge difference. What a difference when a city gives panhandlers what they really need.... a job and hope. But first, this week's decorating tip.

BE YOUR OWN DESIGNER TIP

​Have you ever walked into a room and felt like something was just off? Chances are the scale was out of proportion. Scale makes all the difference. Alana talks about the scale of your furniture, area rugs and artwork. Benefit of having right scale when it comes time to sell.

GIVING BACK / PAYING IT FORWARD: There's a Better Way

Meet Albuquerque's treasure, ​Kellie Tillerson, Executive Director of Housing & Employment services at St. Martin’s. VAN PROGRAM: Instead of citing panhandlers, a van driver (see below) picks up willing workers and gives them a job for the day, paying above minimum wage in cash. To date over 2000 jobs have been provided for over 570 unique clients in Albuquerque alone. THERE'S MORE: Outreach support services, the Hope Café, and on the job coaching, as well as Better Way Day Labor program. These programs are helping panhandlers to get steady, permanent employment, and off the streets into housing. This is exactly what every city in America needs. Read on....

Kellie Tillerson

GOOD NEWS OF THE WEEK

Not only did the city of Albuquerque just approve a second van to extend There Is a Better Way's Van program, program is being replicated around the country. Over 200 cities have expressed interest and are implementing the program, #Denver #Lexington #Tulsa #Camden #Chicago #Anchorage and #Tucson, to name just a few! Just last week #SantaFe announced its intention to also duplicate this outstanding program. Kudos to Mayor Berry, Kellie Tillerson, and all those "super fantastic people" who make this possible.

To bring this type program to your area contact Kellie by phoning (505) 843-9797 ext. 318​. Let's not punish panhandlers, but give them what they really need.... a job and hope. ​

MORE TIPS FOR YOUR HOME

Budget-friendly tips on how you can get the look you love, while staying on budget:

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s your ceiling!

Fake it 'till you make it with molding and built-in looking bookcases.

And how to refresh light fixtures for less than you imagine.

Last but not least, hang ‘em high when it comes to curtains and drapes.

Go out and BE A LIGHT... at home, at work and in your own community. Tune in next Sunday as we make your house a home. ​

NEXT WEEK: Learn about Big Brothers / Big Sisters with Keri Powell. We'll also talk with our favorite custom furniture maker, Scott White. You've seen his work at the NM Museum of Art, the AD show house, Dwell & Modenus, yet he's refreshingly down to earth.

Happy New Year everyone. It's a new year and new opportunity for good things in your life. 2017 is your year!

CLICK MEDIA PLAYER BELOW TO LISTEN

BE YOUR OWN DESIGNER TIP of the week: Alana Light shares 3 steps towards how to start the new Y.E.A.R. (Your Easy Affordable Refresh). Three steps to refreshing your home economically. How to rearrange your rooms, and refresh your artwork to feel like you have a new space. Also, what to give away now, to make more room for good in your life. Best part? All three steps cost you $0.

LOUIE SCHWARTZBERG: Award-winning cinematographer, director and producer whose breathtaking imagery uses time-lapse, high-speed and macro cinematography techniques. His TED talks have been viewed over 50 million times! Louie talks about his greatest teacher, Mother Nature, and the healing power of gratitude. Why understanding mushrooms is so important. Hear how can his amazing, heart-opening, inspiring MOVING ART being used at the UCSD hospital. Be part of the 2017 Gratitude Movement (Oprah approved) by visiting Louie’s Gratitude Revealed website. See the links page for even more of his gorgeous, stunning work. You’ll fall in love with our beautiful glorious earth, every time you watch his jaw-dropping films.Alana’s note: I am so grateful to Louie for coming on the show! He is truly shedding new “light” on what is truly important in our lives. ​

WORKSHOPS: Announcing the next fun, interactive, hands-on workshops. Learn to "Be Your Own Designer", and bring photos of your own home for personalized recommendations. Refresh your home in "Your Home is Your Canvas". Getting ready to sell? Help your home look it's best from day 1 on the MLS by attending "Stage your Home for Sale". Ever popular, budget-friendly "Drab 2 Fab" offers hundreds of economical ways to get the look you want, for less. Click here for more info.

Alana congratulating a previous class attendee for donating over 1200 lbs of clutter

PIN OF THE MONTH: Pinterest has over 150 million monthly users, and while the majority are women, men are the fastest growing demographic. (40% of global signups are men.) For inspiration for your own home see my Pinterest boards: LifeIsMeant2bLived Out of 14K+ pins on my boards, the #1 most pinned item last month was a good reminder for us all! See the FB page Monday 2-Jan-2017 for what that pin is!

This show reached over 38K people on FB.

This week’s guests are women who are the light of hope in their respective fields. They are outstanding women who inspire us all to use our time and talents to bless others’ lives.

​BE YOUR OWN DESIGNER TIP OF THE WEEK: Rearrange your furniture utilizing the “No Wallflowers” principle. This one simple idea helps your room feel like you renovated (even though you didn’t spend a dime.) If you're doing this, see Links page for our favorite tool to make this easy. ​

​PRO CORNER / PAYING IT FORWARD: The founder of Gracie's Gowns, Jessica Kidd uses her time and talents to sew hospital gowns for children fighting life-threatening conditions. Let’s all support this beautiful soul, as she sews out of her home and does it all for free. She customizes each gown with personalized fabric. Jessica is so conscientious, she uses plastic snaps so children could keep the gowns on during procedures such as MRIs. Wow.

If you're handy with a sewing machine, visit their website so you can make Neonatal Intensive Care Unit preemie gowns, face masks, chemotherapy bags and more. Gracie’s Gownssewing opportunities. ​

​Enter the raffle for this year’s Heart of Comfort quilt – made from fabric from all this year’s donated gowns. Whoever wins this quilt will have a treasure indeed.

​YOU DID IT: Grandma Georgie Kuhl joins us and gives tips on creating custom giclee artwork from your iPhone. (And she says she's not tech savvy. Ha!) She also shares how little it really costs, and how easy it is. Great idea to use newspaper cut to size to envision artwork placement. Click here to see the FB post with her artwork.

​GIVING BACK: Parkinson’s Dance makes movement easier for those with Parkinson’s. Grandma Georgie makes it fun for folks in the Omaha NE area. Click to find the Dance for Parkinson’s class near you.

​Thanks for listening! Let's make your house a home, every Sunday at 2 (MT). ​

Art grad Renee Vogelle shares some of the most interesting things she’s framed while working at Fine Art Framers in Santa Fe. Yes, anything can be art.

GIVING BACK / PAYING IT FORWARD:

​Ken & Julie Kirk, previous owners of Frontier Frames are now Civitan Co-Presidents. They share the good work that Civitan does worldwide. Everyone can do something in their community. For info on Civitan international click here, for SFE chapter click here. or visit www.facebook.com/sfcivitan

BONUS:

​California lawyer-turned elementary school teacher Dannette shared 7 back to school steps for kids’ successful year. How simple organization tip helped a family with special needs kids – this may help your household as well.

About Make Your House a HOME show

There was always something to uplift and inspire you on Make Your House a HOME show. We showcased good ideas for your home and your life. By listening to this podcast, you join an international group of listeners who share a desire to beautify their homes, and make their communities better places to live, one compassionate act at a time. To date, we've had 172K podcast listeners in now a total of 47 countries.

Alana Light helped you make your house a home with weekly BE YOUR OWN DESIGNER tips. She also talked with people who are GIVING BACK / PAYING IT FORWARD, making the world a better place. You heard from professionals whose tips and expertise will bless your home in PRO CORNER. We also celebrated listeners' successful DIY home improvement projects in "YOU DID IT" segments.

The show was heard globally on SantaFe.com, and broadcast on KVSF 101.5 FM, the Voice of Santa Fe.